Fall, Glimmer, Sparkle and Fade

:: Monday, September 29, 2003 ::

My life is rated R.
What is your life rated?

:: Ryan 7:34 PM [+] ::
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MTV reported yesterday that Everclear has officially called it quits. You may or may not know that they have been my favorite band for quite some time and I'm obviously upset that they won't be making music together anymore. At the same time, I was talking to D about it and I'm far from surprised. Even a casual fan that has seen their behind the music knows they've come close to breaking up close to half a dozen times in the past. They were living on borrowed time. I've seen them live countless times and they always put on a great show with a ton of energy but you could just tell by watching them on stage together that they didn't really seem to like each other all that much. And I have much respect for Craig Montoya and Greg Eklund -- Everclear's bassist and drummer -- but this was always Art Alexakis' band. Art's solo albums will always have the Everclear sound.

I'm going to put together at least one big 'ole Everclear list, but I'd like some help in deciding just which way I should go with it. There are the obvious best songs, best albums, etc. I'd love some off the wall ideas. Leave some suggestions or maybe just your thoughts on Everclear - positive or negative - in the comment box.

:: Ryan 8:12 PM [+] ::
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Guilty, Guilty, Guily

Here's another one from D:
Top 5 guilty pleasures. You know, the top five things you are ashamed to admit you like. For me it's Hoku. She gets me every time.


There are so many things every person likes that they're ashamed to admit and I'm certainly no different. To say the least this wasn't the easiest list to put together. So, I tried to think of the things I get the wierdest reaction for when I mention them. It's not so much that I'm ashamed I like these things as it is other people think I should be ashamed for liking them. Get it? Got it? Good.


1. Hootie and the Blowfish
- This is a no brainer. Cracked Rear View was one of the first CDs I ever bought and I still think it's a great record. I understand I'm not in an exclusive 'Cracked Rear View ownership' club, seeing how Hootie sold nearly 15 million copies of that album, but I find it hard to find A) people who admit they have it and B) anyone that will say they still like it. Not only have I seen this band live 5 or 6 times (who loses count of the amount of times they've seen Hootie and the Blowfish?!), but I've seen them as recently as the past year. I would have seen them a month ago but unfortunately I had to work and couldn't go. Even when I get someone who says "yea, I have that CD", it's usually followed by "I haven't listened to that in years." I listened to it last week. Is that wrong?

2. Cheesy Sports Movies
- Every Sports fan knows The Natural, Field of Dreams, Brian's Song, etc. Those are legitimate classics and I love those movies. But the movies I'm talking about aren't generally considered "classics". In fact most aren't considered much of anything. I think they're great though. How could you not like the Scott Bakula flick Necessary Roughness? A football movie about a bunch of rag tag college football players no one else wants? Or Thomas Ian Nicholas playing a normal kid turned major league pitcher in Rookie of the Year long before he blew a load into a cup of beer in American Pie. Don't forget about The Replacements starring Keanu Reeves as a down on his luck (it's a theme in these movies) ex-quarterback who is called back into action by coach Gene Hackman to lead a bunch of scabs while the real players are on strike. I bet you've never even heard of Talent for the Game. It stars Edward James Olmos as Virgil Sweet, a (here it comes again) down on his luck talent scout for the Angels who stumbles upon good 'ole country boy Sammy Bodeen who has zero pro experience but an arm that has never been seen before. Evil money hungry owners try to turn sweet Sammy into quick cash and Virgil doesn't know what to do! These are great!

3. Loveline
- I used to watch this on MTV and I was never really all that impressed, but about a year ago I started running the board locally for the show and thus had to listen once a week. I've sort of been hooked since. Now I don't listen religiously, but I get out of work every night around 10 and listen to the show most of the way home. The idiotic blabbing of Adam and intelligence of Dr. Drew is the perfect combo. I sometimes wish I had some twisted problem I needed fixed just so I could be a part of the zanyness, but (un)fortunately my life isn't exciting enough for Adam to make fun of on the radio.

4. That 'Other' Late Night Talk Show
- Letterman's my favorite. Always has been and always will be. But there's another guy I catch a lot of flack for watching. I really enjoy Kilborn. I know what you're gonna say. But why do people hate Craig Kilborn so much? Yes, he loves himself very much and lives on sarcasm, but is that any reason not to watch Craigers (as Janeane Garofalo calls him)? The one drawback -- obviously a big one -- is that he does have trouble getting top flight guests, but to his credit he even made the father from 7th Heaven seem interesting. Making a dull guest interesting is a skill that David Letterman has perfected and Kilborn is the only other person in late night that comes close. Plus, Kilborn gets Dave Grohl to come on just for the hell of it every couple weeks it seems and you can't beat that with a stick. Him and I have to fight over Dido, but we'll leave that discussion for a different list.

5. Fantasy Sports
- I'm a dork. I'm a nerd. I'm a _____ (enter best shot there). Now that I got that out of the way: this stuff is more addictive than heroin and more enjoyable than porn. Not that I know much about either.... anyways. As long as I'm talking to another 20-something male, I know I won't get the "that's so lame" line, but anyone else and 9 times out of 10 I get that look. You know the look I'm talking about. That look. The "awe... that's sad" look. The same look I'll give you when you tell me about your love of Dungeons and Dragons. I understand that if you aren't a big sports fan, fantasy sports make zero sense to you, but isn't it better to know that I look at Fantasy Sports Weekly in Barnes & Noble and not Playboy?

:: Ryan 5:49 AM [+] ::
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Into the Fire
--Bruce Springsteen--

The sky was falling and streaked with blood
I heard you calling me, then you disappeared into the dust
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May you faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

May your strength give us strength
May you faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

You gave your love to see, in fields of red and autumn brown
You gave your love to me and lay your young body down
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need you near, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Someplace up the stairs, into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us hope

May your strength give us strength
May you faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

May your strength give us strength
May you faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

It was dark, too dark to see
You held me in the light you gave
You lay your hand on me
Then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love bring us love...

May your love bring us love

:: Ryan 6:29 PM [+] ::
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Another Recall?

From D:
So California is having a little snafu with the governor. Being a proud New Jersian... What if we had the same deal in New Jersey? What would be your top 5 possible governors for The Jerz?

1. Bruce Springsteen
- Was there every any doubt about this one? He is already seen as 'Mr. New Jersey', so why not actually run the state. Bruce has made a few references to politics in the past and certainly would have enough support to make a run at Governor. Greetings from the Governor's Mansion? Little Stevie Van Zandt can be his Lt. Governor and "Born to Run" can be their campaign song. Perfect!

2. Kevin Smith
- The author of the 'Jersey Trilogy' would be a great choice for Jersey. Those 'come to Jersey' commercials could just be clips from his various films. Ben Aflleck and Matt Damon can run with him as co-lieutenant Governors. Kevin would bring out a record number of young voters -- specifically males -- to the polls with Affleck and Damon picking up the female vote. A whole new View Askewniverse.

3. Richie Sambora
- Curveball! I know you weren't expecting this one. You thought Mr. Jovi would be the obvious candidate, but Bon decides to sit this election out, letting his guitarist step up to the plate. Richie obviously has the Bon Jovi following to rely on, but his wife's fame won't hurt either. The aforementioned Heather Locklear will not only be the First Lady of New Jersey, but will serve as his Lt. Governor.

4. Tara Reid
- She wouldn't be a choice of mine to run, but every election needs a Gary Coleman type and she's stupid enough to think she can actually win. Her equally idiotic friend Lizzie Grubman will be her campaign manager and try to run down all the other candidates with her car. Reid, the 'bad girl' candidate, will pick the ultimate 'bad boy' -- Giant TE Jeremy Shockey -- as her running mate. Their slogan: "Everyone should get paid and get laid! .... except the homos." Morons.

5. Whitney Houston
- I really had trouble thinking of a fifth legitimate candidate. How could I have ever forgotten Whitney Houston? The pride of Newark! Whitney would be the best Governor to fight the drug problem because she'd make sure it was off the street and up her nose. Imagine the late night police visits to the Governor's mansion in Princeton, it would be hilarious! They'd be able to tape an episode of Cops there every week. Bobby Brown would of course be her Lt. Governor, doing all of the 'extra duties' his wife can't handle. And by extra duties I mean coke.

Editor's Note:
New Jersey doesn't actually have a Lieutenant Governor but for the sake of this list lets imagine it does. You can find out more than you ever wanted to about the New Jersey Governor by clicking here.

:: Ryan 9:12 PM [+] ::
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